This database is a comprehensive collection of articles from Nihon bijutsu nenkan (Year Book of
Japanese Art), published by the Tokyo National Institute for Cultural Properties (Tobunken).
On August 21, the exhibition titled ‘Tanaka Isson – Aratanaru zenbō’ opened at the Chiba Art Museum (until September 26). This was a retrospective exhibition of nihonga artist TANAKA Isson (1908 – 1977), who, though virtually unknown during his lifetime, was thrust into the limelight after his death when featured on a television program. It garnered significant attention as an initiative to re-examine and re-evaluate Isson’s artistic career. It focused on his early works and archival materials, moving beyond the tendency for his legacy to be defined primarily by his later works depicting the unique flora and fauna of the southern islands, created during his time residing on Amami Ōshima Island. The exhibition subsequently toured to the Kagoshima City Museum of Art (October 5 – November 7) and the Tanaka Isson Museum (November 14 – December 14). (Japanese)
On April 6, the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum (Director: TAKAHASHI Akiya) opened in Tokyo’s Marunouchi district, which was faithfully restored to its Meiji-era red-brick architecture. Originally designed by British architect Josiah Condor, it was demolished in 1968 (Shōwa 43) due to deterioration. It now comprises twenty exhibition rooms with a total floor area of 6,000 square meters. Housing a collection of approximately 250 works, including lithographs and posters by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the museum plans host three to four special exhibitions annually, focusing primarily on nineteenth-century modern art. The inaugural exhibition titled, ‘Manet et le Paris moderne’ (until July 25), a joint project with the Musée d’Orsay, displayed Manet’s major works, linking the full scope of his artistry with the transformation of Paris as a city during that time. The second opening commemorative exhibition, titled ‘From Dream to Reality: The Iwasaki, Mitsubishi Collection’ (August 24 – November 3), introduced the Iwasaki family’s deep engagement with culture and arts through masterpieces from the Seikado Bunko Art Museum and Toyo Bunko both of which the family founded, alongside works in the collection of Mitsubishi group companies and affiliated individuals. (Japanese)
On April 16, the Council for Cultural Affairs (Commissioner: NISHIHARA Suzuko) submitted a report on eight assets to be designated as Important Cultural Properties to KAWABATA Tatsuo, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The list includes the Sugimoto Residence, a large-scale of Kyō-machiya (Kyoto townhouse) in the center of Kyoto; and the Former Tamana Reclamation Facility (Tamana City, Kumamoto Prefecture), built on reclaimed land in the Ariake Sea. In addition to the list, Sakuragawa City Makabe Traditional Building Preservation District (Sakuragawa City, Ibaraki Prefecture) was also suggested to be selected as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. (Japanese)
On January 1, the recipients of the Asahi Prize for the fiscal year 2009 (sponsored by the Asahi Shimbun Foundation) were announced. In relation to art, architect Toyo ITO received the prize for ‘achievements that expanded the possibilities of spatial expression in contemporary architecture.’ (Japanese)
On April 23, a commemorative ceremony was held to mark the completion of the Daiichiji Daigokuden Hall (former Imperial Audience Hall). A head of the 1300th anniversary of the capital’s relocation to Heijō in 2010, the building’s restoration had been underway since 2001. Based on the findings of extensive research, the project aimed to restore the hall’s original design, structure, and materials, by employing ancient traditional construction techniques wherever possible. The interior paintings, depicting the Four Directional Deities and the Twelve Zodiac Animals, were executed by nihonga artist UEMURA Atsushi. The Heijō Palace site, where the Daigokuden Hall had been restored, served as the main venue for the Heijō Relocation 1300 Year Festival from April 24 to November 7. (Japanese)
The recipients of the 51st Mainichi Art Award (sponsored by the Mainichi Newspapers Co.), an annual award given to outstanding individuals in art and culture, were announced. In relation to art, the award was given to architect KUMA Kengo for his architectural design of the Nezu Museum in Architecture Category; and SEKI Masato for his special display at the 9th Fusōinsha exhibition, held at the Tokyo Central Museum of Art and his publication of the collection of tenkoku seal-engraving. (Japanese)
On April 26, the Democratic Party of Japan’s HATOYAMA Yukio administration conducted budget screening exercise, targeting the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage and the National Museum of Art, both independent administrative institutions. While the budget screening concluded that ‘the scale of operations should be expanded’ regarding the collection of cultural properties and artworks, the institutions were required to make self-reliant efforts through private donations and cost reductions since the governmental financial support would not increase. In response, from September to December, both institutions, joined by the Japan Arts Council and the National Museum of Nature and Science, convened the Working Group on National Cultural Institutions (Chair: FUKUHARA Yoshiharu, Honorary Chairperson, Shisendo Co., Ltd), where the future direction and management following the transition to an independent administrative institution were discussed. (Japanese)
The winners of the VOCA Prize, which encourages young artists who create two-dimensional artworks, were announced. The 17th Grand Prize of the VOCA was awarded to MIYAKE Saori (‘a secret talk’ and ‘Bed’). SAKAMOTO Natsuko and NAKATANI Michiko jointly received the VOCA Encouragement Prize. KIYOKAWA Asami and SAITŌ Meo jointly received the VOCA Honorable Mention Prize. SAITŌ Meo also received the Ohara Museum Art Prize. The VOCA 2010, where the winners’ works were exhibited, was held at the Ueno Royal Museum in Tokyo from March 14 to 30 in 2010. (Japanese)
On May 1, the Shizuoka City Museum of Art (Director: TANAKA Toyone) opened on the third floor of the newly constructed Aoi Tower building at the north exit of JR Shizuoka Station. It is managed by the Shizuoka City Cultural Promotion Foundation. It comprises three exhibition rooms with a total floor area of 1100 square meters. Having succeeded the Shizuoka Art Gallery, which was closed in March, the museum will not host permanent exhibitions since it houses no art collection. Instead, it will focus on special exhibitions that are not confined to specific genres as its core activities. Workshops and talk events were held until September. A series of the inaugural exhibitions commenced in October: (I) ‘Masterpieces from the Pola Museum of Art: Impressionists and Ecole de Paris’ (October 2 – November 28); (II) ‘Ieyasu and Yoshinobu: Tokugawa Family and Shizuoka’ (December 11 – January 30, 2011); and (III) ‘Munakata Shikō: Inori to tabi (Munakata Shikō: Prayer and Journey) (February 11 – March 27, 2011)’. (Japanese)
